By 1971, the local restaurant chain had six restaurants in Houston and one in Beaumont. Restaurateur Janie Tijerina had been overseeing the operation for about six years at that point, taking over the reins after husband Felix’s death in 1965.

Success for the couple didn’t come overnight. But, according to Janie Tijerina’s 1997 obituary, that all changed in the 1930s thanks to a fast horse at Epsom Downs.

One fateful day, her boss at a variety store gave her $50 to bet on a horse at Epsom Downs, the area’s former horse track. He was such a skinflint, she knew he wouldn’t risk that much money unless he was sure the horse would win.

She had promised her husband to stop gambling but couldn’t resist betting on the same horse. She hocked her jewelry and furs and their car, plus got a few dollars from other shop girls, and bet $450.

The horse won, but then she had to tell her husband the risk she had taken Felix, then a beer truck driver, was shocked and said: “Janie, what have you done?”

She confessed about reneging on her promise, gave him the winnings (about $1,100 after their property was redeemed), told him to open a restaurant and pledged, “You’re going to be the only boss.”

Outside of the restaurant business both were active in politics and the arts community.

Even though it’s been two years since the last Felix Mexican Restaurant — at 904 Westheimer — closed, its famous queso lives on. You can find it these days at El Patio.

David Nance : Chronicle file

Janie Tijerina, early 1970s

Pervin & Assoc. : Chronicle file

From the July 30, 1961, Houston Chronicle: “Opens new restaurant: Felix Tijerina, center, of 904 Westheimer, celebrates the opening of his fifth Felix Mexican Restaurant at 719

Telephone Rd., by serving dinner to Mrs. A. S. Foote, 1219 Van Buren, who has been a regular customer for almost 40 years. With Mrs. Foote are, left to right, her granddaughter, Mrs. Winston A. McKenzie, 2105 Del Monte; her daughter, Mrs. G. Maxfield Taylor, River Oaks Gardens, and her great-grandson, Winston A. McKenzie Jr., who cut the ribbon at the official opening of the restaurant.”